G & G inspired entertainment center

After finishing my shop last year, I fell into a slump. Not because i didnt feel like building anything but because I was having a difficult time finding inspiration. I knew what i wanted to build but was not sure about style. Fortunately I came across a post by Darrell Peart and fell in love with Greene and Greene. I purchased one of Darrell’s books and explored a few other sources. E-mail me for specifics. Fellow lumberjock, ocwoodworker was also kind enough to answer a few questions by email. Lots of thanks to both of you.

Lots of mahogony, a little ebony and 200-300 man hours. I spent most of my spare time over the last six months building this. If i did this again, i could probably do it in half the time. This build gave me a chance to use every tool in my shop. I lost track after a while, but I cut about 40 mortises by hand and there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 ebony plugs on this thing.

I used a brown mahogany die and a wiping varnish for the finish.

Great learning experience, but i am relieved to be done. It will be moved into our living room tomorrow.

That…Looks…Incredible!!!! Great job. Could you post a picture of the sides? Kinda hard to see it in those four pics. Did you end up using those threaded inserts? I know G&G is generally done in Mahogany, but to me (and you) it’s much better in walnut!! Great choice. To me it helps understate the ebony plugs because it closely matches the dark grain of the wood. Once again…Awesome job!!!

-- I'd like to believe Murphy's Law haunts my woodshop, because if it's Karma it would mean I had something to do with it. - K.R.

Impressive. Very nice design & craftsmanship. I never want to add up the “man hours”. My projects usually take me 5 to 10 times as long as I think they will, even if I have every single detail designed.

Thanks for the comments. OC-I added a couple of pics for you. I did go with the threaded inserts which worked nicely. dnick- I have been trying to pay more attention to how much time i put into things to give me a more realistic idea of what i can do. Its funny because people ask me to do things for them all the time, but they dont actually realize what it is they are asking me to do. If someone sees this and i tell them i have 250 hours in it, they are less likely to say, “hey, can you make me one”. That would be great if I had rich friends and more free time.

Nice work! I Love G & G…. I have read Darrell’s book and his work is amazing as well. If you ever get out to Southern California, you have to go to the Gamble House in Pasadena. It was built for the Procter and Gamble Family by The Green and Hall Brothers. As I ‘m sure you know, the Hall brothers did most of the woodworking for them after they came up with the design. Its Trurly Amazing. From the structure to the furniture theres so much to see Blondie and I have gone 3 times already.

I hear ya on the Man hours I keep track for fun as well and when people ask for one I tell them the price with pride no matter if the buy it or not.

thats flattering Kent, but woodworking can be challenging enuff without me confusing everyone.

Ken—I have seen pics of the Gamble House, and would love to visit. Im hopeing to eventually take a class at the William Ng school which i think would put me fairly close to the Gamble House. I have alot of money to save before i can do this.

LOL…. I hear ya, save ,save, save,,,, yes you would be close to go see it. There a few houses here from them. If you go to Ng class let me know I’ll meet you for a beer or soda. We live close. I here nothing but great things about Ng and have met him great guy.